Pyrrolo(3&#39;, 2&#39;-2, 3)-androstanes and process therefor



United States Patent 3,032,551 PYRROL(3,2'-2,3)-ANDROSTANES AND PROCESS THEREFOR James C. Orr and Albert Bowers, Mexico City, Mexico,

assignors to Syntex S.A., Mexico City, Mexico, a corporation of Mexico No Drawing. Filed May 25, 1961, Ser. No. 112,542 19 Claims. (Cl. 260-2395) The present invention relates to novel cyclopentanophenanthrene compounds and to a process for the production thereof. 7

More particularly the present invention relates to novel pyrrolo 3',2-2 ,3 -androstane derivatives.

-'The'novel compounds of the present invention are anabolic'and androgenic agents having a favorable anabolicandrogenic ratio, exhibit anti-estrogenic activity, antigonadotrophic activity, are central nervous system depressants, have anti-fibrillatory effect, suppress the secretion of the pituitary gland and lower the blood cholesterol level, and may be represented by the following formulas:

In the above formula, R represents hydrogen or an alkyl, alkenyl or alkynyl group of less than 8 carbon atoms; R represents hydrogen or a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group containing less than 12 carbon atoms; R is hydrogen or methyl; R and R represent hydrogen or a lower alkyl group; R R R", and R represent hydrogen, a lower alkyl group, nitro or a halogen such as bromo, chloro, iodo or fluoro, and R and R together may represent a benzene ring.

The acyl group is derived from hydrocarbon carboxylic acids of less than 12 carbon atoms, saturated or unsaturated, of straight, branched, cyclic or cyclic-aliphatic chain and may be substituted by functional groups such as bydroxy, lower alkoxy, acyloxy containing up to 8 carbon atoms, amino, nitro or halogen. Typical ester groups are the acetate, propionate, butyrate, benzoate, cyclopentylpropionate, aminoacetate, B-chloropropionate, hemisuccinate, enanthate, caproate, trimethylacetate, methoXyacetate, phenoxyacetate, and phenylpropionate.

The novel compounds of the present invention wherein R and R represent hydrogen or a lower alkyl group may be prepared by a process illustrated by the following equation:

R NH NH;

-of amino acetaldehyde in 20 cc. of ethanol.

In the above formulae, R, R R R R and R have the same meaning as previously set forth.

In practicing the process outlined above, the starting compound, an androstan-l7fi-ol-3-one derivative or the 19-nor derivative (I) thereof is condensed with a phenylhydrazine as for example p-tolylhydrazine or 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine in the presence of an acid such as acetic acid, at the temperature of approximately 100 C. and for a period of time of the order of 3 hours, thus affording the corresponding indolo(3',2-2,3)androstan-175ml derivative.

Any of the above 17 3-alcohols having in 1704- a hydrogen may be conventionally acylated in pyridine with an acylating agent to give the corresponding l-N-acyl-l7- acylate derivative, Which upon selective saponification in mild conditions affords the l7-monoacylate.

The l7fl-alcohols with substitution at 170: are conventionally acylated with an excess of acylating agent in the presence of p-toluenesulfonic acid to give the corresponding 1-N-acyl-l7-acylate which upon selective saponification afiords the 17-monoacylate.

The following specific examples serve to illustrate but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention:

Example I To a solution of 2 g. of dihydrotestosterone and 2 g. of sodium in 100 cc. of anhydrous ethanol was added dropwise with stirring a solution of 1 g. of Z-amino-pentan- 3-one in 20 cc. of ethanol. The reaction mixture was then left at room temperature for 5 hours, poured into water and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Alumina chromatography and recrystallization from acetone-hexane afforded 4-cthyl-5- methyl-pyrrolo(3,2'-2,3)androstan-175-01.

Example 11 Following exactly the technique described in Example I were treated 17a-methyl-dihydrotestosterone, 17u-vinyldihydrotestosterone and l7a-ethynyl-dihydrotestosterone thus furnishing respectively 4-ethyl-5'-methyl-pyrrolo- (3,2'-2,3) 17o: methyl androstan 175-01, 4-ethyl-5'- methyl pyrrolo(3,2' 2,3) 17a vinyl androstan 1713-01 and 4' ethyl 5 methyl-pyrrolo(3',2-2,3)-17aethynyl-androstan-Ufl-ol.

Example III When applying the method described in Example I to 19-nor-dihydrotestosterone, 17ot-methyl-19-nor-dihydrotestosterone, 17o: vinyl 19-nor-dihydrotestosterone and 17a-ethyny1-19-nor-dihydrotestosterone, there were respectively obtained 4'-ethyl-5-methyl-pyrro1o(3',2'-2,3)- 19-nor-androstan-17p-ol, 4'-ethyl-5'-methyl-pyrrolo(3',2- 2,3)-l7a-methyl-19-nor-androstan-175-01, 4'-ethyl-5-methyl pyrrolo(3',2-2,3) 17a vinyl l9 nor androstan 175-01, 4-ethyl-5-methy1-pyrrolo(3',2'-2,3)-17a-ethynyl- 19-nor-androstan-17fl-ol.

Example IV A solution of 2 g. of dihydrotestosterone and 2 g. of sodium in 100 cc. of anhydrous ethanol was treated dropwise and with constant stirring with a solution of 0.7 g.

The reaction mixture was kept at room temperature for 5 hours, then poured into water and extracted with methylene chloride. The extract was washed with water, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Alumina chromatography and recrystallization from acetone-hexane afforded pyrrolo(3',2'-2,3)-androstan-17B-ol.

Treating exactly by the same procedure the starting compounds hereafter set forth, there were obtained the corresponding products indicated:

Starting compound Product 17a-methyl-androstan-WB-ol-3-one pyrrolo(3,2-2,3) 17a methyl-an drostau-Nfi-ol.

pyrrolo(3,2 2,3) 17a vinyl androstan-17501.

pyrro1o(3,2 2,3) 17oz cthynyl androstan-ml.

17a-vinyl-androstan-17B ol-3-one- 17a-ethynyl-androstan-l7/8-ol-3-one 19-nor-dihydrotestosterone pyrrol0(3,2-2,3) -19-nor androstan-17/8-ol. 17a-methyl-19-n0rdihydro testosterone pyrrolo(3,2-2,3) 17a methyl 19- pyrrol0(3,2'-2,3) 17a-viny1-19-norandrostan-17501.

17a-vinyl-finer-dihydrotestosterone 17a-Dth l-19 -nor dihydrotestosteron i f .e pyrrolo(32-2,3) 17a ethynyl-IS Example V A mixture of 1 g. of dihydrotestosterone, 1 g. of phenylhydrazine and 4 cc. of acetic acid was heated on a steam bath for 3 hours, under an atmosphere of nitrogen. On cooling, there crystallized a crude product which upon recrystallization from ethyl acetate gave indol0(3',2'-2,3)-androstan-17fl-ol with a melting point of 25758 C.

When applying the above method to the starting compounds set forth below and using the hydrazine indicated there were obtained the corresponding products disclosed hereafter:

17a-ethynyl-19-nor-di- ...do 5-mcthyl-indolo(3,2- hydrotestosterone. 2,3)-l7a-ethynyl-l9- I nor-androstan-NB-ol. dihydrotest0sterone 2,3-d1methyl- 6,7-dimethyl-indolo phenylhydrazrne. ggyii fiyandrostan- -O 19-nor-dihydrotestos- --...do 6,7-dimethyl-indolo terone. (3,2-2,3)-19-n0randrostan-l7fi-ol. 17a-mcthyl-dihydro- (Z-naphthyDhydrahenzoindolo (3,2- testosterone. zine. 2,3)-17a-methy1- androstan-17B-ol. IMethynyl-drhydro- -....do benzoindolo (3,2'- testosterone. 2,3)-17aethynylandrostan-UB-ol.

Example VI 1 g. of 4'-ethyl-5'-methyl-pyrrolo(3',2'-2,3)-androstan- 1713-01 in 25 cc. of pyridine was treated with 2 cc. of acetic anhydride. The reaction mixture was left overnight at room temperature, then poured into water and the formed precipitate filtered ofl, washed with water and dried affording 1N-acetyl-4'-ethyl-5'-methyl-pyrrolo(3',2-2,3) androstan 17p -ol-17-acetate. This compound was treated for 12 hours with 25 cc. of a 2% potassium hydroxide methanolic solution at 0 C. The mixture was poured into water, the formed precipitate filtered ofi, washed with water, dried and recrystallized from ethyl acetate-hexane, furnishing the 17-acetate of 4 ethyl 5' methyl pyrrolo(3,2' 2,3) androstan 175-01.

By the above procedure were treated the starting coms pounds listed below with the indicated anhydride thus affording the products disclosed hereafter:

Example VII A mixture of 1 g. of pyrrolo(3,2'-2,3)-17a-methyl-androstan-l'lB-ol, 10 cc. of aceticanhydride, 1 g. of p-toluenesulfonic acid hyd'rait'and 50 cc. of acetic acid after 1 hour reaction at room temperature was poured into water and stirred until the excess anhydride had hydrolyzed. Isolation of the product by methylenehloride extraction afforded 1'.- N acetyl pyrrolo(3',2' 2,3) 17a -methyl androstan 17,8 ol l7 acetate. This compound was treated with 25 cc. of a 2% potassium hydroxide methanolic solution. The reaction mixture was kept overnight at C., then poured into water. The formed precipitate was filtered off, washed with water, dried under vacuum and recrystallized from acetone-hexane giving pyrrolo(3,2'-2,3)-17a-methyl-androstan-1713-01-17- acetate.

The starting compounds listed below were treated with the acylating agent indicated following exactly the above technique, thus furnishing the products set forth below.

Starting compound Acylating Product agent 4' ethyl 5 methyl pyrrolo acetic anhy- 17-a cetate of 4-eth vl-5- (3',2' -2,3)-17a-methyl androdride. methyl pyrrolo (3',2 stan 2,3) -17a-r nethyl '-androstnn-17fi-ol. 4 ethyl 5' methyl pyrrolo propionic 17-propionete of 4'-ethyl- (3,2 2,3) 17a vinyl 19 -nor anhydride. 5 methyl pyrrolo (3,2-

2.3) l7ozvinyl 19-norandrosten-17B-ol. l7-propionate of pyrrolo (3.2 2,3)- 17:! methylltl-nor-androstan-Ufl-ol.

androstan-176ml pyrrolo(3,2' -2,3)- l7a-methyldo 19-nor-androstan-17fl-ol.

5',7 dinitro indolo(3,2 2.3) caproic IT-caproate of 5,7'-di 17a-methyl-androstan-176-01. anhydride. nitro indolo(3',2 2,3) 17a methyl androstan 5' bromo indolo(3,2 2,3) .---d0 17-caproa to of 5-bromo- 17a methyl 19 nor androindolo(3,2 2,3) 17a stan-l7fl-ol. methyl 19 nor andro- 5 methyl indolo(3',2' 2,3) cyclopentyl- 17-cyclopentylpropionate 17a vinyl 19 nor androstan propionic of 5-methyl-indolo(3,2-

175-01. auhydride. 2,3) 17a vinyl 19 -norandrostan-171301.

5' methyl indolo (3 ,2 2,3)- do l7-cyclopentylpropionate 17a ethynyl 19 nor androof 5 methyl indolo- Example VIII By substituting in the method of Example IV the aminoacetaldehyde by Z-aminopropronaldehyde, there Were obtained the corresponding 5-methyl-pyrrolo derivatives.

In a similar manner there was substituted the aminoacetaldehyde by Z-aminobutyraldehyde and 2-amino-3- methyl-butyraldehyde and there was afforded the corresponding 5-ethyl-pyrrolo and 5-isopropyl-pyrro1o derivatives respectively.

6' We claimi 1. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl group containing less than eight carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group containing less than 12 carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; and R and R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a lower alkyl radical.

2. 4' ethyl 5' methyl pyrr0lo(3,2' 2,3) androstan 17B ol.

3. 4 ethyl 5' methyl pyrrolo(3,2' 2,3) 17!:- lower alkyl androstan 17(3 ol.

4. 4' ethyl 5 methyl pyrrolo(3,2 2,3) 19- nor androstan 17B ol;

5. 4' ethyl 5' l methyl pyrrolo(3',2 2,3) 17alower alkyl 19 nor androstan ol.

6. Pyrrolo(3',2' 2,3) androstan 175 ol.

7. Pyrrolo(3,2' 2,3) 19 nor androstan 175 ol.

8. The 17 acetate of 4' ethyl S methyl pyrrolo (3,2' 2,3) androstan 17p ol.

9. The 17 propionate of pyrrolo(3',2' 2,3) drostan 1 7 6 01.

' 10. A compound of the following formula:

wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl group containing less than eight carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group containing less than 12 carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R R R", and R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, nitro and halogen and R and R together represent a benzene ring.

11. Indolo(3',2' 2,3) androstan 175 01.

12. 5,7 dinitro indolo(3',2 2,3) 17 methylandrostan 17B 01.

13. 5 bromo indolo(3',2' 2,3) 17oz methyl 19- nor androstan 17B 01.

14. 5 methyl indolo(3',2' 2,3) 17a ethynyl 19- nor androstan 17B 01.

15. 6,7' dimethyl indolo(3,2' 2,3) androstanl7 3 01.

16. The 17 caproate of indolo(3',2 2,3) androstan- 175 01.

17. The 17 cyclcpentylpropionate of 6',7' dimethylindolo(3',2' 2,3) androstan 17p ol.

wherein R, R and R are defined as above with a compound of the following formula:

wherein R and R are defined as above.

19. A process for the production of a compound of the following formula:

R8 H wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, an alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl group containing less than eight carbon atoms; R is selected from the group 15 consisting of hydrogen and a hydrocarbon carboxylic acyl group containing less than 12carbon atoms; R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and methyl; R R, R' and R are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lower alkyl, nitro and halogen and R and 20 R together represent a benzene ring, which comprises condensing in the presence of an alkali metal alkoXide a compound of the following formula:

wherein R, R and R are defined as above with a compound of the following formula:

wherein R R R and R are defined as above.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3,032,551 May 1, 1962 James C. Orr et a1.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patant requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 8, line 21, for "an alkali metal alkoxide" read acetic acid Signed and sealed this 1st day of September 1964.

(SEAL) Auest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A COMPOUND OF THE FOLLOWING FORMULA 